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How to Identify and Remove Ticks from Your Cats and Dogs
Many pet owners anticipate the discovery of a tick in their cat or dog’s fur with trepidation— and for good reason. Ticks are dangerous parasites that can transmit diseases to animals and humans alike. When your dog or cat is running through the pet doors from the outside, it’s worthwhile ensuring that it hasn’t picked up any ticks.
Signs Your Pet Has Ticks
Stay alert! If you notice any of the following signs, your dogs or cats may have ticks:
- You find a tick in your home.
- Your pet has a fever.
- There are unexplained scabs on their skin.
- You feel a small bump in their fur.
Active pets are susceptible to getting ticks, especially in grassy or...
read moreGot Allergies? Here Are Five of the Top Hypoallergenic Dog Breeds
If dogs are man’s best friend, then it is simply unlucky that there are those who are allergic to these four-legged companions. Many people want to become pet parents but suffer from allergies. According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, as much as 10 percent of the population in America is allergic to dogs. If you long for a dog to run through that dog door, then hypoallergenic pets can help!
Usually, the hair and dander are what cause sufferers to start sneezing. Common pet dander allergy symptoms include:
- Coughing and wheezing
- Red, itchy eyes
- Running, itchy, stuffy nose
- Sneezing
Some people with dog...
read morePopular Pet Names of 2017
Whether you’re picking up your puppy from the shelter or your cat is of what makes the companionship so special is building a relationship that will last for years.
If you have pets already, you’ll know that their names speak volumes about their personalities. Traditional names such as Spot, Fluffy, and Patch that described the look or personality of the pet seem to have been taken over with a variety of new names for our four-legged friends.
While names like Kitty and Tiger are still high on the list of popular names, there are new ones coming to the forefront that are proving popular among cat and dog owners alike.
Check out the top pet names that have cropped up this year:
Male Dog... read more
Pet Priority: Dealing with Dog Separation Anxiety
As any dog owner will tell you, a dog is part of the family—its own human pack. Australia Pet Doors, the leading provider of pet doors in Brisbane, knows that these highly sociable animals prefer living in groups and often become anxious when separated from their owners.
Pet parents may feel guilt over leaving their dog home alone, especially a new dog adopted from the local pet shelter, but there are dog separation anxiety solutions to ensure your dog can look forward to or, at the very least, tolerate being left alone.
What Are the Symptoms of Dog Separation Anxiety?
If you have a pet that acts desperate for you to stay by his side, you probably already know dog anxiety symptoms. These...
read moreTranslating Different Dog Barks
Bark! Woof? Growl?! Do you know what all these “dog language” words mean? Whether your furry friend is leaping through pet doors for dinner or trying to alert you to a dreaded squirrel in the yard, he has his own language, too. Savvy companions often grow to inherently know their dog’s barks and what they mean, but, as it turns out, your dog’s barks really do have different and identifiable meanings.
Let’s paw at the truth and get to know our pups a little bit better with this translation guide.
Repeated Mid-Range Barks
The repeated, mid-range bark is your dog’s way of saying, “Hey human! Pay attention. Something’s happening.” It’s the bark...
read moreHow to Cool Down an Overheated Dog
Dogs love to play outside, but it can be dangerous for them during the summer. Our furry friends burn a lot of energy, and it’s easy for them to heat up quickly with little warning. Keep your pup cool, comfortable, and collected with these overheated dog recovery tips.
Overheating: Causes and Symptoms
Dogs only have sweat glands on their paws, so they remove most of their excess heat by panting. Thus, it’s harder for them to release heat when they become warm. Dogs with thick or long coats, short noses, high activity levels, or advanced age are more susceptible than other breeds to overheating, heat stroke, and heat exhaustion.
Symptoms of overheating can vary but, in most cases, they’re...
read moreWhen and How to Trim a Cat’s Claws
Trimming your cat’s claws is about more than just saving your furniture; it’s good for your cat, too. Keeping those nails trimmed reduces the chance of your cat getting his claws stuck in the carpet or other fabrics, and that can prevent costly vet visits. Most importantly, the occasional trim will also foster an enjoyable experience instead of a pain-inducing exercise in wincing.
It’s far healthier (both mentally and physically) for your cat to keep their claws intact, so, even if it’s tempting, don’t entertain the idea of declawing. Not only can it cause devastating side effects like chronic pain, it really isn’t necessary, and, if they happen to dash out the pet door, declawed...
read moreHow Long Should You Walk Your Dog?
Being a dog owner is one of the most rewarding things in the world, but it also requires a lot of responsibility. Often, that responsibility is found in keeping your furry friend active. While some dogs prefer short walks, others may require a lot more time and energy. Read on to learn more about how often you should walk your dog.
Just because you have a yard, it doesn’t necessarily mean your pooch is getting exercise. Dogs are very similar to children. If they don’t get enough playtime, they can display behavioral issues. Those issues commonly consist of destructive chewing or scratching, raiding the garbage, excessive and rough play, and other annoying habits.
Try Walking
The benefits of...
read moreHow to Keep Other Animals from Using Your Dog Door
Pet doors are great to install when you want to give your pet the flexibility to come and go as he or she pleases. However, one drawback some pet owners experience is that of uninvited guests getting into their homes, like stray pets, skunks, raccoons, rodents, snakes, and even the occasional bird. There are different things you can do to help reduce the likelihood of this occurring in your home.
- Fence in the area around the door. For instance, if the door is installed on the back of the home, you could fence in part of the backyard, which can deter most types of unwanted animals from being able to access the door.
- Do not keep food or water... read more
Tricks & Treats: How to Train Your Dogs to Do the Basics
If you’ve been to the dog park, chances are you’ve seen people cavorting about with their well-trained dogs, prompting them to do all manner of neat tricks in exchange for little baked bone-shaped biscuits.
Undoubtedly, you love your own sweet dog, but maybe you can’t help but feel a little twinge of jealousy when you consider that all your dog seems to know how to do is eat, sleep, use the dog door, and remind you of when it’s time for feeding. But, fear not! Teaching a few basic dog tricks is a rather simple task, and you’ll soon find out that you can, indeed, teach an old dog new tricks.
Teaching a dog to sit is usually the first trick a dog will learn, and it forms the base from which most other tricks are performed. While you could push on the dog’s rear...
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